THE Mt Pleasant Uniting Church is likely to be the first church sold under plans to rationalise the Uniting Church's Ballarat properties.
The church's congregation decided Sunday's service was the last at the Morton St church.
Chairman of the Uniting Church Grampians Presbytery mission strategy and property committee, David Pratt, said the decision to close was made entirely by parishioners and no congregations would be compelled to close their
church doors.
Last year the Uniting Church suggested at least four of the city's 12 Uniting churches could close and a vote by church members saw two-thirds vote in favour of rationalisation.
After Easter church goers will be asked to vote on the the future of individual churches along with a strategy and budget on the direction of the church in Ballarat.
Uniting Church spokesman Kim Cain said parishioners would be provided with more information about three weeks before voting.
While it is likely to close four Ballarat churches, the Uniting Church has plans to build a "contemporary worship centre" on the 8000-square metre St Andrew's site in Sturt St.
Mr Pratt said Melbourne architects, Williams Boag, were carrying out a feasibility study on the proposed centre and a report and conceptual plans were expected next month.
He said the centre would not be like a stadium but would have rooms and space for broader community use.
"It's about making faith relevant to the 21st century; practising faith in the community in a way that people can relate to," he said.